Northern State Multi Service Center

Last updated: July 2026

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Read the 2026 Fact Sheet

The Department of Ecology is overseeing the cleanup of the Northern State Multi Service Center cleanup site in Sedro-Woolley, WA. Decades of hospital operations and maintenance from the former Northern State Hospital contributed to contaminated soil, groundwater, and soil vapor on the property. The contaminants are above WA State cleanup levels established to protect people and the environment.

We held a comment period from June 15 to July 16, 2026, on the following three documents:

• Interim action work plan: a document outlining the scope of work and schedule for the interim action (early partial cleanup).

• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Nonsignificance: A document of determination (prepared by Ecology) that the cleanup work is not likely to harm the environment.

• Updated Public Participation Plan: describes how we will inform the community about the site activities and ways to become involved.

Ecology will consider all the comments received during this public comment period and may make changes to the documents. If the documents require significant changes, we will hold another public comment period. If not, Ecology will finalize the documents and post a response to comments summary document on this webpage once complete.

The interim action will clean up soil contaminated with lead from old paint chips around the historic Hub Building in Area of Concern 3 (see property map under “contamination”). This action will stop people and wildlife from coming into contact with lead contaminated soil, prevent impacts to groundwater, and support renovations of the building. The interim action is planned to take place in the summer of 2027.

The next steps of the cleanup process include studying the site (remedial investigation), considering options for cleanup (feasibility study), and planning the cleanup (cleanup action plan). These cleanup documents will be available for public review and comment.

Join our email list to receive updates about the Northern State Multi Service Center cleanup site. Email Kristen Forkeutis, Public Involvement Coordinator, at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov to be added to the list. Unsubscribe at any time.

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law). It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology enacts the MTCA and oversees cleanups. The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps (see graphic below) over a variable timeline.

Current Northern State Multi Service Center cleanup site Public Participation Plan

This plan describes how Ecology will share information with the community and how you can share information with us. Ecology will review this plan as the cleanup progresses and amend/update it as necessary.

The 220-acre Northern State property sits on the northeastern edge of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County, WA. The property was developed in 1909 for the Northern State Hospital, which was owned and operated by Washington State. The hospital treated individuals with mental health issues and employed more than 400 people. It was a self-sustained, residential community with a farm, creamery, shop, and more. It closed in 1973 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

In 2015 the City of Sedro-Woolley annexed the Northern State property, and in 2018, Washington State transferred ownership of the property to the Port of Skagit. The port, city, and county are working together to turn the property into the Sedro-Woolley Innovation for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Center, a mixed-use campus for education, research and development, manufacturing, hospitality, and commercial venues. Many of the property’s buildings are currently leased to tenants.

Decades of hospital operations and maintenance for a powerhouse, a water treatment facility, a fueling station, maintenance and paint shops, and a laundry facility contributed to contamination on the property. Debris from demolished buildings was also reportedly buried or disposed of on site.

Environmental investigations found contaminated soil, groundwater, and soil vapor. The following contaminants are above WA State cleanup levels established to protect human health and the environment:

• Soil: metals, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), tetrachloroethene (PCE), and petroleum products.
• Groundwater: metals, PCE, trichloroethene (TCE), and petroleum products.
• Soil Vapor: PCE and TCE

Testing identified contamination within seven areas of concern (AOCs) at the site:

• AOC 1: Former Laundry Building
• AOC 2: Power House Building
• AOC 3: Trevennen Building, Coleman Building and Denny Building
• AOC 4: Former Ward Building Area and Athletic Fields
• AOC 5: Metals in Soil
• AOC 6: Maintenance Building
• AOC 7: Lead and Arsenic in Groundwater

The following cleanup actions have been completed to address contamination:

• 2023: At AOC 4 arsenic-impacted soil was removed and disposed of near the former ward building and athletic fields. Surface restoration work was also completed.
• 2024: At AOC 1 a sub-slab depressurization system was installed to prevent vapor intrusion. Compliance monitoring was conducted to establish baseline conditions and performance monitoring is ongoing.

A portion of this site is being managed by the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA). For more information, please see PLIA’s Technical Assistance Program.

Note: Records for this site could be held at both Ecology and PLIA.

Need help or have questions? We offer translation and interpretation services at no cost. If you need these services, email kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-240-4353. If you call, ask for an interpreter to be connected with one.

Español ¿Necesita ayuda o tiene preguntas? Ofrecemos servicios de traducción e interpretación sin costo. Si necesita estos servicios, envíe un correo electrónico a kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov o llame al 425-240-4353. Si llama, pida que le conecten con un intérprete.